Britain will send hundreds of drones, anti-tank weapons and dozens of artillery to Ukraine in the coming weeks, Defense Minister Ben Wallace announced.
The government said on July 21 that the delivery of new weapons to the Ukrainian fight against the “brutal and unjust” invasion of Russian President Vladimir Putin “significantly strengthens Britain’s support.”
Wallace said in a parliamentary update that Britain would soon deliver more than 20 M109 155mm self-propelled artillery and 36 L119 105mm artillery to the Ukrainian army.
He added that the new package also includes a counter-battery radar system and more than 50,000 rounds of ammunition for Ukraine’s existing Soviet-era cannons.
The equipment will enhance Ukraine’s ability to protect itself from Russia’s “indiscriminate use of cannons,” the Ministry of Defense (MoD) said.
In addition, the UK will send more than 1,600 more anti-tank weapons in the coming weeks, along with drones containing hundreds of roaming aerial ammunition.
“Strength of our determination”
Regarding the new weapon package, Wallace said: “The scale and scope of the equipment we provide demonstrates the strength of our determination. We work with international partners to help Ukraine protect its country from the illegal invasion of Putin. Make sure you have the tool. “
New deliveries take place after Prime Minister Boris Johnson promised another £ 1 billion ($ 1.2 billion) in military aid last month, bringing Britain’s total aid to £ 2.3 billion ($ 2.7 billion) since the start of the war. I was.
So far, the UK has 6,900 NLAWs, Javelin, Brimstone and other anti-aircraft weapons, 16,000 shells, six Stormer armored vehicles with Starstreak anti-aircraft missile launchers, and hundreds of missiles, according to MoD. It has been supplied to Ukraine.
The UK also supplies a large number of non-lethal weapons, including maritime Brimstone missiles, multiple launch rocket systems, 120 armored fighting vehicles, and over 82,000 helmets, 8,450 sets of bulletproof vests, and over 5,000 night-vision devices. increase.
With the help of additional funding announced last month, MoD said the “next phase of military aid” would include “more sophisticated air defense systems, unmanned aerial vehicles, and innovative new electronic warfare equipment.” rice field.
Russia vows to expand the purpose of the war
Russia has declared that it will expand the purpose of the war in Ukraine in response to the Western arms supply to Ukraine.
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on July 20 that Russia’s military “mission” in Ukraine is now beyond the eastern Donbas region.
Lavrov spoke with state news agency RIA Novosti, saying that Moscow’s goals would be further expanded if the West continued to supply Kieu with long-range weapons.
Reuters and PA Media contributed to this report.
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